Former cop cars are always tempting projects, as they typically feature mechanical upgrades not found on civilian models and obviously retain the paint jobs and other cosmetic add-ons that separate a law enforcement vehicle from garden-variety versions. This 1979 Chevrolet Impala is listed for sale by the officer who used it while on active duty with the San Jose, California police department, which makes it even cooler as a potential project. The Impala is said to run, shift, and stop, but is on non-op status with the California DMV. Find it here on eBay with bidding to just under $3,000 with the reserve unmet.
The Impala retains its police-spec color scheme, and while it looks fairly tired cosmetically, this is an old police car – it’s not expected to be in pristine condition. That being said, I’d love to see this one restored with gleaming green and white paint and a lightbar on top, but that’s up to the next owner to decide. The bodywork is respectable up and down the sides, with decent panel gaps for a car that likely got banged around quite a bit when in active use. The rear taillight panel looks slightly askew, but it could just be my eyes playing tricks on me. The paint is baked off in places, undoubtedly from years exposed to the relentless California sun.
Seating surfaces aren’t too bad, with bargain-basement cloth upholstery that looks itchy just sitting there. The headliner is effectively gone and the carpets have been ripped out, but the dash surprisingly has no cracks. The seller notes there is very little rust, with just a small hole noted in the passenger-side floorboard. The door panels look decent as well, with no major cosmetic flaws and crank windows that appear to still work. The seller notes that despite being stripped of the equipment that tells the world this is a cop car – light bars, sirens, spotlight, etc. – he has purchased most the period equipment that his department used on cars like this.
I love that this Impala is listed for sale by the very same officer that used this car when it was patrolling the streets of San Jose daily. The mileage is listed as being 134,000, and while it does run, the seller is careful to mention that it needs a proper going-through. Fortunately, the bodywork will likely be a nominal concern given how solid it appears all around. This is hardly a surprise considering where the Impala found its calling as a police car is perhaps one of the more perfect climates in the lower 48 states, and with the period police equipment installed and perhaps some call letters and department logos down the sides, it will be a runaway hit at car shows in short order.
I own a ’70 Plymouth Fury III ex-Washington State Patrol car. The drivetrain was rebuilt years ago. It was restored as a clean top unmarked car. When I arrive at car shows I can put my county Sheriff signs on it as they are magnetized. All emergency equipment is period correct and operational and yes people like it at car shows.
I woulda go with an “NYPD BLUE” paint job and the weird V shaped roof lighs,
Or if working more on the cheap–paint it Olive Drab, put lights on it and make it a Military Police car like them guys chasing after the A-team
Our small town had the same color 79 Impala cruisers .They left the car one solid color so they could sell them easier later on. Over the years several sat with the lights all flashing behind my Duster 340 – That green still gives me the creeps !
I guess i must be missing something as all i see is a $500 car
I get what you mean, but I’ve come to the sad realization that there are no more $500 cars
Looks more like a Santa Clare county Sheriff car which were Green for a spell long ago. San Jose police were blue if i recall correctly, but that was a long time ago.
I agree with you on that. I went for a ride along with the a Deputy Sheriff in one of these in 82. As for SJPD, their cars have always been a unique blue that I have not seen anywhere else. I also remember when Santa Clara had all white Malibu’s during this same era.
Don’t really care for the color scheme, but
that can be fixed with a new paint job. I’m
thinking that crystal granite paint you can
get on the new Dodge Chargers. That would look great on this car. A few tweaks to the engine, refresh the suspension, and some modern brakes, and this would be a great first car to put
my neice into. I just took her out for a
driving lesson in my Charger and she did
great! And yes, she brought us back in
one piece.
This car will sell due to one simple option code. 9C1
“ It’s got a cop motor, a four hundred and forty cubic inch plant. It’s got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It’s a model made before catalytic converters, so it’ll run good on regular gas.“
Who sells a car and doesn’t mention the engine. I had a 1984 Impala police cruiser, it had a 4.3 L V6. This could have also had a 305 or 350
If it was a 9C1 cop car it would have rubber mat floor covering, not carpeting. The engine not identified makes me question what it is, if it’s the 5.7 liter (350) V8, that would be desirable, a 4.3 V6 not so much. I’d rather have a fully loaded Caprice Classic, drop in a LS crate motor, upgrade the brakes to 4 wheel disc, the suspension with urethane bushings, larger sway bars and heavy duty ball joints & control arms front & rear. That would be my build.
This was way before the 4.3 V6’s time. The 6-cylinder engine on the 1979 full size cars was the 4.1 L straight 6. I’m not sure it was available in the 9C1 package but it may have been for city patrol cars.
If anyone remembers the TV cop show “Hunter” from the mid-80s, it looks like something he would drive.
No visible radio antenna – must be in windshield.
Surprised none of the plastics are cracked or discolored!
120mph speedo in ’79? Must be cop only certified one.
Wonder how much more hp a modern cat converter is worth over this restrictive one.
Attention new “car” designers! – THIS is how mirrors are supposed to be mounted! – not where there’s supposed to be glass! Do not block my view!
I would do a light resto and return its black and white paint and rent it out for movie/video shots Better rate of return than most current investments
SOLD for $3,200.
I think for $3,200 someone got a fair deal. Bot a great bargain, it will be a while before this is a big dollar car (if ever), but it could be a fun toy.
There is a big Police Car sector of this hobby. This is a great example of an original car that will be best restored to its original spec with correct stickers from the department it actually was in. This car has provenance that most police cars don’t. The rubber floors are still available, headliners are easy to fix. This car was well bought